PART 5 - HOW TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM NATURALLY

Carrying on from our series of what we can do to increase our immunity the following are some simple steps that anyone can take to increase immunity and strengthen the body’s resilience against infection:

• Cut out coffee as it is very acidic and inflammatory. It also aggravates the gut and reduces nutrient absorption which may compromise your immune system. Instead find a coffee alternative the suits you. NB; there can be some benefit to low levels of coffee consumption however this article is focused on immunity.
• Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption as these toxins have a negative effect on your immune system and make you prone to infection.
• Avoid soft drinks and junk food including chocolate, takeaways and convenience foods as they are high in sugar and processed fats, disabling the immune system and contributing to toxicity.
• Eat a healthy diet full of fresh organic vegetables and fruit, good quality proteins (legumes, beans, fish, organic eggs) and healthy fats (avocados, nuts, seeds). Some immune-boosting foods are listed below.
• Reduce sugar intake including sweeteners (even the natural ones) and refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta and pastries. Sugar negatively affects the immune system and prevents the body’s phagocytes (the immune cells which eat up the pathogenic germs) from working efficiently.
• Limit pasteurised dairy products (milk, cheese, yoghurt) as dairy is very mucus-forming and can aggravate the gut.
• Reduce your toxic load by using natural cleaning products, cosmetics and beauty products. The average home contains over 62 harmful environmental toxins which we absorb through the air we breathe and the products we put on our skin. Avoid spray products, use gloves where possible, keep the house well ventilated and only use products with natural ingredients.
• Detox your body: cleanse your liver and kidneys by drinking a warm glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice first thing in the morning or try organic, unpasteurised (raw) apple cider vinegar.
• Do a colonic to clear out toxin build-up in the gut.
• Take liver and kidney cleansing herbs and nutrients.
• Have an Epsom salt bath which helps draw out toxins from the body.
• Practise dry skin brushing to eliminate toxins, improve circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system.
• Use a sauna (infrared if possible) to gently sweat out harmful toxins through the skin.
• Engage in regular movement and exercise to get your body moving; movement promotes circulation and stimulates your immune system.
• Stay hydrated by drinking filtered water and herbal teas.

There is a currently a school of thought that coronavirus is not heat-resistant which means heat (above 26 – 27°C) will kill it. If this theory is true, some have been suggesting that the best way to avoid contracting the virus is to maintain your body heat through exercise, drinking hot drinks (water or herbal teas) and eating foods which create heat in the body such as chillies, ginger and pepper. Whilst this point has been debated, it certainly cannot hurt to practice this in our current situation.
 
Immune-boosting foods:

• Garlic
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Sweet red peppers
• Kiwi fruit
• Citrus fruit: oranges, lemons, grapefruit
• Blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries
• Leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach, chard
• Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts – all the brassicas are excellent
• Mushrooms, especially shiitake and oyster mushrooms
• Sunflower seeds and almonds
• Green tea and matcha

Health starts from within
The best way to keep yourself well is to boost your immune system by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle. Coronavirus cannot survive in a heated environment so maintaining body heat may be important; drink hot water, eat heating foods and do plenty of exercise. Furthermore, if you do end up with a fever, encourage it by wrapping up in warm blankets. Although this may make you feel uncomfortable, you are promoting/aiding the body’s wisdom in raising the temperature of the body so that it can kill off the virus. NB: if the body’s temperature rises above 40 degrees, then you will need to contact your GP and this is the time to not promote a further rise in temperature.
Finally, reduce your toxic load, cut out junk and sugar, eat immune-boosting foods and detox your body. In my next coronavirus blog, I will be discussing the herbs, nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies you can take for immune health.

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